The lifetime experiences and the long-lasting memories they create, are what make travelling priceless and unique. The modern traveler is looking for experiences rather than the luxury properties and amenities, the sandy beaches, the famous attractions, the intense entertainment and all those “must see” mentioned in touristic guides. Nowadays, real life experiences are what drive people to travel.

Visiting the Louvre is essential when visiting Paris, but also a memorable beautiful evening with new, local friends in a quiet bistro can become priceless. The visit in a small village in Crete is interesting indeed, but when it ends with dancing Cretan dances in the local wedding feast, it becomes a lifetime experience. The modern traveler is seeking to really know a place, to see images, hear sounds, enjoy the tastes and smells, feel the atmosphere, feel and live like the locals for a while.

Through unique, authentic experiences, through contact with the history, culture, geology, gastronomy and folklore, the visitor is getting involved via effective participation with all the senses, rather than within the detached observation of a new place.

This search, pursuit and desire is defined as Experiential Tourism and it is a wide and very modern field that includes various forms of tourism such as outdoor activities, cultural tourism, culinary tourism, ecotourism, educational travel, heritage tourism, experimental tourism etc.. The common feature of all mentioned above is to include activities beyond the ordinary, environmentally friendly, with respect for the culture of a place.

The purpose of the IMIC 2015 International Conference is to thoroughly present the current trends in the theme of the Experiential Tourism, to strengthen the interest, to contribute further in the understanding of the ever-increasing importance of the experiences in tourism, to provide knowledge and new tools to all those who are at the forefront, design and offer the touristic product.

The organizers and the scientific team that supports IMIC 2015, invite academics, researchers and young scientists from the wider field of tourism from around the world as well as representatives of the state, local authorities, the business community, etc. to participate actively in lectures under the conference topics.

Santorini is the ideal venue for hosting conferences of tourist interest. The unique natural landscape combined with the thriving and innovative tourism market make it a particularly attractive destination worldwide.